Predicting Candy Preferences

The Study

Nine candies were included in the study.

• Red Vines Original
• Licorice, Grape
• Sour Punch Bites Apple
• Sour Punch Blue Raspberry Straws
• Sour Punch Strawberry Straws
• Fruit Vines Bites Strawberry
• Rollin' Red Candy Super Ropes
• Hershey's Kisses

We thank the American Licorice Company for donating their products for testing. (Yum!)

Volunteers watched while the package was opened in front of them and then they were invited to take a piece of candy out of the wrapper, place it in their mouths, and chew it slowly, holding it in their mouths for 60 seconds. We collected neurologic immersion data throughout this experience. After tasting the candy, participants could eat it or spit it out in trashcans we provided. 

Volunteers then relaxed for 60 seconds while we continued to measure their physiologic responses to the candy's taste. Then, participants were given a cracker and some water to cleanse their palates before tasting the next candy.

After each tasting, participants were asked if they would purchase the candy they had just tasted. Data were collected on 10 people ages 20-55, both males and females.

The Results

Immersion was almost 50% higher when people watched the candy being unwrapped and picked it up to eat it compared to when they tasted the candy. Our analysis confirmed other studies of reward anticipation in animals and humans: the prospect of a reward is a reward in and of itself.

We estimated a statistical model using Immersion during the entire candy experience to predict intent to purchase. Average Immersion was a statistically significant predictor of intent to purchase, while no self-report variables were significant besides how pleasant the candy tasted (naturally!).

Impressively for such a small sample size, Immersion accurately predicted purchase intent with 78% accuracy. This shows how closely Immersion tracks preferences.

So, which candy was most loved? By a landslide, the winner was Hershey's Kisses. Kisses were rated as tastiest and were nearly always swallowed rather than spat out after tasting.

When volunteers were offered free candy to take home, Kisses were taken twice as often as the second most popular choice, Red Vines.

Key Learnings

1.  Immersion predicts candy preferences above self-report measures and does so with high accuracy.
2. Choosing to eat candy and other foods starts with anticipation. Food manufacturers should make the anticipatory experience multi-sensory, using sights, sounds, touch, and smells to enhance immersion.
3. Anticipation can be highlighted in your video ads. No need to simply show the smiling faces of the actors enjoying your product, tap into the thrill of the build up. 
4. Raising immersion during the anticipation of food consumption will enhance consumer enjoyment and improve sales.